Hello,

I have been dealing with this fan noise on and off ever since I got my TB16 (240w version) last fall. I am using it with a Precision 5530, 2x P2415q displays, keyboard/mouse, and even the ethernet. I often will have my phone or ipad charging off it too, so the thing is definitely getting a workout with nearly every port in use.

What I have always found baffling is that the fan noise appears to be quite random. It is quite inoffensive when my computer is charging, running solidworks, while charging my iphone and ipad at the same time. But it can be *very* offensive when, like this morning, I go into my study and everything is cool from the night, and the computer has been asleep all night. Yet, that fan is whizzing it's little brain out like an annoying mosquito.

I found after a bit of searching that this is a very common complaint (almost as common as the fragility of the TB3 connector on the other end) and no real answer other than some people have had them replaced under warranty, which of course doesn't fix the (non-existent, operating as designed) problem. The standard response from Dell representatives is to of course install all of the bios and firmware updates (mine were all up to date as of this morning). Some people are asking if a quieter fan can be sourced and installed. Most are afraid of using a philips screwdriver or breaking the thing, it seems like nobody has actually bothered to look inside of it. It's pretty easy to open up with just a couple screws on the bottom.

So I took the thing apart to try to see what was wrong with it. It turns out, nothing. As soon as I disconnected the TB3 cable from the dock (which requires a screw-in bracket to keep it secure) I noticed the connector is not only made out of thick aluminum, it has heat sink fins on it. And that connector is warm (!) even though my computer had been asleep all night. So even though the computer is asleep, the dock is still keeping it's link and power circuitry awake.

Anyways, I pulled it open and found a cute little blower fan right on top of that big finned connector body. Everything else inside was cool to the touch. So that fan is definitely working!

Anyways, I solved the problem by zip tying it underneath my desk. That muffles the noise enough for me to make it inaudible. The only improvements I could see would be to add another fan and, since my previous laptop was a razer stealth with it's ridiculous hair dryer 'core' docking station/egpu, I'm not going to complain too much about it.

If anybody cares, the PN for the fan is Sunon MG75150V1-C110-S9A.